Norfolk and Western 2300

Norfolk and Western Railway 2300 “Jawn Henry”
Norfolk and Western Railway 2300 – "Jawn Henry"
Type and origin Power type Steam turbine Builder Baldwin Locomotive Works and Westinghouse Serial number Baldwin 75911 Model Baldwin 6-6-6-6-4500/1-TE Build date May 1954 Total produced 1
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 6-6-6-6  • AAR C+C-C+C  • UIC Co′Co′-Co′Co′ Gauge 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) Driver dia. 42 in (1,067 mm) Length Locomotive: 111 ft 7+1⁄2 in (34.02 m) Loco and tender: 161 ft 1+1⁄2 in (49.11 m) Adhesive weight 818,000 lb (371,000 kg) (409t) Tender weight 364,100 lb (165,200 kg) (when loaded) Total weight 1,182,100 lb (536,200 kg) Fuel type Coal Fuel capacity 20 short tons (18.1 t; 17.9 long tons) Water cap. 22,000 US gal (83,000 L; 18,000 imp gal) Boiler pressure 600 lbf/in2 (4.1 MPa)
Performance figures Power output 4,500 hp Tractive effort 144,000 lbf (640.54 kN) (at 9 mph)
Career Operators Norfolk and Western Railway Class TE Numbers 2300 Retired 1958 Disposition Scrapped in 1958

The Norfolk and Western Railway 2300 (nicknamed "Jawn Henry") was a single experimental steam turbine locomotive of the Norfolk and Western Railway. The N&W placed it in class TE. It was nicknamed Jawn Henry after the legend of John Henry, a rock driller who famously raced against a steam drill and won, only to die immediately after. It was designed to demonstrate the advantages of steam turbines espoused by Baldwin Chief Engineer Ralph P. Johnson. It was the longest steam locomotive that was ever built. The unit looked similar to the C&O turbines but differed mechanically; it was a C+C-C+C with a Babcock & Wilcox water-tube boiler with automatic controls. The boiler controls were sometimes problematic, and (as with the C&O turbines) coal dust and water got into the electric traction motors. Number 2300 was retired, stricken from the N&W roster on January 4, 1958 and scrapped later that same year.